Burner for explosion-engines.



No. 871,883. PATENTED NOV. 26, 1907.

P. MCGUSKER.- BURNER FOR EXPLOSION ENGINES.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 22, 1907.

PETER MCCUSKER, OF GALESBURG, ILLINOIS.

BURNER FOR EXPLOSION-ENGINES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 26, 1907.

Application filed May 22. 1907. Serial No. 375,172.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, PETER McCUsKnn, a subject of the King of England,and a resident of Galesburg, in the county of Knox and State ofIllinois, have invented a new and useful Burner for EXplosion-Engines,of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to burners for explosion engines, and particularlyto that class or type thereof in which gasolcne, naphtha or like fuel isemployed, the flame arising from the combustion of which surrounds andheats an ignition pipe or plug, a portion of which plug is within theheating chamber and the other end of which is connected with and opensinto the cylinder. In the usual type of burner for such purposes, theflame is permitted to pass freely out of the heating chamber, wherebygreat loss of heat is entailed and the ignition pipe is not maintainedat the sufficiently high temperature to insure regular ignition. Thisresults not only in waste of fuel but the pipe is not at all timesheated to such degree that uniform explosions of the vapor in thecylinder occur.

The main object of my invention is to provide a simple, durable,inexpensive and effective means whereby the otherwise wasted heat may beutilized; and a second object is to furnish such means of such form orconstruction that it may be instantly attached to and firmly held inplace on the burner or combustion chamber or detached therefrom withoutinjury to the operator.

In the accompanying drawings which illustrate a preferred embodiment ofmy invention: Figure 1 is a vertical, central sectional elevation,showing also a fragment of an engine cylinder; Fig. 2, a plan of apreferred form of the reflecting plate shown at Fig. 1; Fig. 3, asectional view of the plate shown at Fig. 4 and a fragment of thecombustion chamber, taken in the plane of the line ac9c, Fig. 4; andFig. 4', a modification of the plate shown at Figs. 1 and 2.

Referring to the drawing by numerals, the same one indicating the samepart in the different figures, 1 represents a cylinder which may be ofany desired form and construction, and is provided with a piston andmeans of gas supply, not shown. These form no part of my invention andneed not be further herein described. I

2 indicates a cylindrical combustion chamber or chimney and 3 its liningof asbestos or other non-heat-conducting material or substance. Threaded into the lower end or bottom of the chamber 2 is an air supplypipe l through which passes a fuel-supply pipe 5 provided with aconstricted nozzle or tip 6. These are parts of an ordinary constructionof burner and operate in the usual manner. Ordinary drip pans and.valves, not shown, are also provided.

llhreaded into the cylinder at any suitable portion thereof is one endof an ignition pipe '7, the other end, S, of which is a conical orpointed heat retaining plug which extends through the wall of and islocated, as shown, within the combustion chamber. This also is of a wellknown construction.

9 represents my improved reflecting plate, formed preferably of a metalsusceptible of receiving and sustaining a high polish or burnish, andresilient. It comprises a hub 10 from which radiates a series of arms11, the end of each of which is bent downwardly and inwardly to claspand securely hold it from displacement on the wall of the combustionchamber. One, at least, of the arms 11 is elongated and at its extremity11 turned outwardly to such extent that it will not burn nor blister thefingers of the operator when grasped by him to remove it from thecombustion chamber "for cleaning or for any other purpose when it is ina heated condition.

In the modifications I have shown the hub or disk 10 is depressed andthe radial arms are bowed or arched at 13 to fit snugly over the wall ofthe combustion chamber, which construction permits a somewhat firmer,grip than that shown at Figs. 1 and 2.

The plug is kept heated by the flame from the vapor generated from thefuel supplied to burner tip 6 by pipe 5. The successive charges ofexplosive vapor in cylinder 1 are forced up into the interior of theignition plug, and there ignited, as well understood. It is essentialfor perfect operation that said pipe be constantly and uniformly heatedand that the heat be intense.

As has hereinbefore been stated, in burners of this character asheretofore constructed the flame would pass entirely through the heatingchamber entailing a great loss in heat. To obviate this the reflectingplate is removably secured to the top of the heating chamber to partlycover it, whereupon the heat is reflected or turned back by it andespecially by the polished or burnished hub and arms. I have found inuse that a saving of over one-half of the fuel heretofore used iseffected, and that the explosions are uniform and positive, whereas Ihave experienced great di'lficulty in operating the burner without thereflector. Shouldit bedesirable lor any purpose to remove the plate fromthe combustion chamber when hot, the same is readily effected bygrasping the extension or handle 11 which, because of its distance fromthe chamber and from the horizontal arms of the plate, is comparativelycool.

Being of resilient material the wall of the chamber will be so firmlyclasped by the terminals or extensions of the radial arms that When thedevice is employed on an engine which is itself moving and which issubjected to great and sudden jars and jolts, the plate will not bedisturbed from its normal position. I have successfully operated thedevice on railway turn tables which are sub jected to extreme jars fromheavy locomotives striking them, sometimes causing the amass light, whenno plate is used, to be jolted with such force that it would'beextinguished.

Having thus described my invention, its nature and advantages, I claimas new and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

In a burner for explosion engines provided with a heating chamber and anignition pipe therein, a removable heat reflector adapted to be securedover the open end of the heating chamber, being formed of a single thinplate of resilient metal and consisting of a central hub smaller thanthe end of the chamber and outward-projecting arms bent downward attheir ends to clasp the outer sides of the walls of the chamber.

In witness whereof I hereunto subscribe my name at Galesburg, in thecounty of Knox and State of Illinois, this 26th day of April, 1907.

PETER MOCUSKER.

Witnesses:

MARY McOUsKER, H. M. RICHARDS.

